February 4 2011 Last updated at 05:46 PM ET
DALLAS -- While NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith continues to take a combative stance toward the slow-moving labor negotiations which face a March 4 deadline before the collective bargaining agreement expires, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell maintained a mostly conciliatory attitude during his annual state of the game press conference on Friday."We need to have intensive, round-the-clock negotiations, address the issues and find solutions," Goodell said. "If we're committed to doing that, I think we can be successful. I can assure that I have that sense of urgency and I think both sides do. There are no dealbreakers. There are many different ways (to) address the issues we have. In negotiations, there is give and take. That's how you get an agreement that makes the game better. The status quo is not acceptable. We have to address these issues going forward. This isn't about the next three months. It's about the next 10 years. This is about getting an agreement in place that will ensure the success of our games going forward. "
While Smith said Thursday that March 4 is a hard deadline, NFL chief counsel and lead negotiator Jeff Pash said Wednesday, "If you're making progress, you can stop the clock. It's not a Thelma and Louise situation where you just go over the cliff." Goodell termed it "a very important" date.
"Our window of opportunity is in the next few weeks to get an agreement that works for everybody," Goodell said. "I'm sure a lot of steps will be taken. Our window of opportunity is in the next few weeks to get an agreement that works for everybody. We're prepared for every outcome. The commitment of ownership is to get an agreement and we will get an agreement. (But) that will only happen with intensive negotiations. If we're committed to doing that, I think we can be successful. I can assure you that I have that sense of urgency and I think both sides do."
Goodell maintained that he favors going from 16 games and four preseason contests to 18 and two. And he ripped the NFLPA for demanding that the owners open their books to prove that they need the players to give back an estimated $1 million a year.
"The players of the union said last week that the players got a great deal in 2006," Goodell said. "Clearly the pendulum has shifted too far in one direction. We want to make sure that it's fair to the clubs. We want to make sure that it's fair to the players. We have to get beyond this negotiating ploy of opening the books. The players have more than sufficient information to understand why the economics of this deal doesn't work. They recognized that 12 months ago when I was sitting at the table and they said, 'We recognize that the clubs are getting squeezed.'
"Since 2006, we (have not planned) and built a new stadium. This agreement needs to be addressed so that we can make the same kind of investments that can grow this game. If we're not successful at getting a deal done by March 4, the uncertainty will continue which will be bad for everyone. It will be bad for the players. It will be bad for the clubs. That uncertainty will lead, potentially, to a reduction in revenue (so) there will be less for us to share. And that will just make it harder to reach an agreement. What we have to do is remove the uncertainty. A series of things will happen in March if we're not successful. There will not be free agency which will impact on the players. There will be a number of things that both sides will consider that will us move away from the negotiating table. The fans just care about us getting an agreement. They don't care about the details. They just want to make sure that (we have) football."
On other matters, Goodell said that the recently announced naming rights deal for a proposed stadium in Los Angeles is "obviously a positive development ... but even with that ... the financing of a stadium in Los Angeles is still a very difficult proposition (without a new CBA)."
Goodell praised Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, who rocketed from felon in the spring of 2009 to Pro Bowl pick this season. The commissioner also said that he would be happy to hand the MVP Trophy on Sunday to Pittsburgh Steelers stars Ben Roethlisberger and James Harrison, each of whom he strongly disciplined this season. And Goodell said that the icy, snowy weather in North Texas hasn't affected his belief that Super Bowl XLVIII, which will be played outdoors at New Meadowlands Stadium in three years, will be a success.
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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/04/goodell-there-are-no-dealbreakers-in-labor-negotiations/
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